Schools

Wiggins Elementary designated Title I distinguished school

Employees receive bonuses, raises

The Wiggins Elementary School was chosen as the Colorado National Title I Distinguished school this year, and district employees will be getting bonuses and step raises this year.

WES was one of only two schools out of hundreds in the state to receive this recognition, said Principal Gary Bruntz during the Wiggins Board of Education meeting last week. It is also up for recognition as the Colorado Title I School of the Year, which will be decided at a state convention. That would put the winner up to possibly win national recognition.

This award is based on "exceptional student achievement," he said.

"That is a fantastic award," said Superintendent Steve Neel.

This comes on top of a Colorado Department of Education award of distinction last year, he said.

Raises

The board unanimously approved giving a 6 percent bonus, step increases for the years served, a stipend base increase and a stipend step increase.

Board members did not really discuss the issue, but did come out of an executive session just before that.

"You guys are doing a great job," said board President Craig Harris, "and you deserve it."

Count

Having almost 30 more full-time students, which means more state funding, may have made the decision about raises easier.

The board approved the CDE student count, which showed that the district has 486.5 full-time students contrasted with 457 last year.

Actually, the district has 550 students, but preschool and kindergarten students are often parttime, Neel said.

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Grant

Music teacher Jeff Everett was given a $1,000 grant by the district to buy equipment and software for his classroom after the board considered the top three candidates out of nine applications.

However, the other applicants could still get grant money for their needs. Part of the purpose of the grant was to get teachers to give the district grant writer ideas for what to apply for, said Lisa Trautwein, the Wiggins Preschool Director and the district grant writer.

She said she tried to make it as easy as possible to apply.

Social learning

Trautwein also talked to the board about a social and emotional growth program the preschool uses called Incredible Years.

Teachers use puppets to interact with children to teach them lessons about sociability and behavior.

Some of the teachers demonstrated how they use puppets to teach children to relax with deep breathing. They also use the program to help them learn to deal with frustration and mistakes, Trautwein said.

Kids become so involved with the puppets they talk about them like they were friends, and parents sometimes ask who these people are that their children talk about at home.

Trautwein noted that it does not matter how smart a child is if he or she has behavioral or emotional issues.

This is part of getting kids ready for kindergarten, she said.

The creators of the program do not expect huge growth over a short time. Generally, if children grow by 0.2 percent it is considered usual. But Wiggins kids made 2.31 percent growth, Trautwein said.

Heard that the agriculture and FFA programs have had students identifying weeds, learning surveying, doing public speaking, hosting events such as Truck or Treat and a homecoming booth, done community service and attended the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Students also worked at the Pope Corn Maize this fall, and the proceeds will benefit the program. This was an opportunity for the kids to get work experience, too.

Heard Shelby Teague say that she was excited that her dairy judging team took gold at the national convention. Agriculture students competed, attended workshops, took tours, went to a concert and went to a career fair.

Heard Bruntz report that the elementary school has 237 students, or about 40 per grade level. About 97.2 percent of parents showed up for parent-teacher conferences.

Heard secondary Principal Trent Kerr say Wiggins High School and Wiggins Middle School have 15 more students this year, and fewer detentions for the same time period as last year. Only 67 percent of high school parents and 79 percent of middle school parents went to parent-teacher conferences. The schools are giving out prizes for students who can get their parents to come.

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